CRM-M-40565-2025 (O&M) 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 201 CRM-M-40565-2025 (O&M) Date of Decision: 29.08.2025 MANJINDER SINGH ....Petitioner VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB ....Respondent CORAM : HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY Present : Mr. Pawandeep Singh, Advocate for Mr. K.S. Dargan, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Manipal Singh Atwal, DAG, Punjab. AMAN CHAUDHARY, J. (Oral) 1. On 30.07.2025, this Court had passed the following order:- “Instant petition is preferred under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNSS') seeking anticipatory bail in FIR No.173 dated 31.12.2023 under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short IPC') (Section 120-B of IPC was added later on), registered at Police Station Sadar Jalalabad, District Fazilka. Learned counsel for the petitioner, inter alia, contends that FIR (supra) has been registered after a delay of 07 months, which creates a serious dent on the case set up by the prosecution. Further, the allegations of inducement are against co-accused, who is alleged to have cheated the complainant of an amount of Rs.9.00 lakhs. The petitioner has been arraigned as accused in the FIR (supra) vide DDR No.12 dated 28.07.2024, on the ground that some amount has been credited Deepak Patwal 2025.08.30 12:00 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-40565-2025 (O&M) 2 in his account. Moreover, the maximum sentence provided for the offences, under which the FIR (supra) is registered, is punishable upto 07 years. The petitioner is having clean antecedents and is not involved in any other case. Notice of motion for 29.08.2025. Keeping in view the ratio of law enunciated by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Satender Kumar Antil Vs. CBI (2022) 10 SCC 51; Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre Vs. State of Maharashtra and others 2010 SCC OnLine SC 137; Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia etc. Vs. State of Punjab (1980) 2 SCC 565, Arnesh Kumar Vs. State of Bihar (2014) 8 SCC 273 and Sushila Aggarwal Vs. State of NCT Delhi 2020 (1) RCR (Criminal) 833, the petitioner is directed to appear before Investigating Officer within a period of two weeks from today and thereafter, as directed by the Investigating Officer. In the event of arrest, the petitioner will be admitted to interim anticipatory bail on furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of Investigating/Arresting Officer. The petitioner shall cooperate with the investigation/Arresting Officer and abide by the conditions as provided under Section 482(2) of BNSS (erstwhile Section 438(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973). If the Arresting Officer does not permit the petitioner to join the investigation, he would appear before learned Illaqa Magistrate, who would then summon the Arresting Officer and direct him to join the petitioner in the investigation, in terms of the order of this Court. Nothing observed hereinabove shall be construed as an expression of opinion by this Court and learned trial Court shall decide the case on its own merits, strictly in accordance with law”. Deepak Patwal 2025.08.30 12:00 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-40565-2025 (O&M) 3 2. Learned counsel submits that in pursuance of the afore-mentioned order, the petitioner has not only joined investigation but also fully cooperated with the investigating agency. He further submits that in case the investigating agency requires the petitioner to appear, he shall make himself available without demur. 3. Learned State counsel on instructions from the investigating officer affirms the factum of joining the investigation by the petitioner and cooperating with the investigating agency. He also submits that at this stage, the petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation. 4. In view of the above and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, anticipatory bail petition filed by the petitioner is allowed and the order dated 30.07.2025 granting interim bail to him, is hereby made absolute, subject to compliance of conditions as specified under Section 438(2) Cr.P.C. (now 482(2) of BNSS, 2023) 5. However, it is made clear that if the petitioner fails to join and cooperate with the investigating agency as and when required, the State would be at liberty to move an application for cancellation of the present anticipatory bail granted to him. (AMAN CHAUDHARY) 29.08.2025 JUDGE Deepak Patwal 1. Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No 2. Whether reportable Yes/No Deepak Patwal 2025.08.30 12:00 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document